Experiencing an electrical fire in your home can be absolutely devastating. There are some things you simply can’t ever get back after experiencing a fire. Electrical fires make up a big portion of house fires that homeowners experience every year. There are many things you can do to be proactive in the fight against electrical fires though. Simon Electric is here to share some of the most common causes of electrical fires so that you can be informed on how to avoid this devastating blow in the future.

Common Electrical Fire Causes

Here are some of the leading causes in residential electrical fires. Some of these risks are more obvious than others, but for the most part, you should be able to play an active role in preventing an electrical fire from happening in your home.
– Faulty Outlets / Old Appliances: Old appliances and faulty outlets are a big cause for electrical fires. You should refrain from using an old appliance when the cord is showing any sign of damage or wear. If the cord is frayed or split in any way, you should be looking to replace it as this is a big concern. Also you should never remove the ground plug from a cord so that you can use it in a two prong outlet. That ground plug is there for safety purposes and removing it is dangerous.
– Using Higher Watt Bulb in Light Fixtures: If you have light fixtures that have a bulb too high in wattage than it can handle, you will be at risk of an electrical fire. You should never exceed the wattage that your light fixture recommends to play it safe. Along these lines, you should never drape a towel or hand cloth over the top of a lampshade as this can be extremely dangerous as well.
– Long Term Extension Cord Use: Extension cords are not made to be permanent fixtures in your home. They are for temporary use only and are not ever made for appliances. Your large appliances should be plugged directly into the outlet. If you don’t have an outlet that works for your appliances, it is time to call in a professional and ditch the extension cords.
– Space Heaters: Space heaters are so easy to move around that people often set them too close to flammable objects. If you are choosing to use space heaters, choose the radiator kind since they are much safer.
– Old Electrical Wiring: It is hard to know if the wiring in your home is safe or not since you can’t actually see it. If you live in an older home, there is a good chance that your wiring is old and outdated. A professional electrician can help you determine if any of your wiring needs to be replaced.

Electrical Inspections, Troubleshooting, Emergency Repairs & More in Delray Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Jupiter & Boca Raton & Palm Beach County Florida

If you have any risks in your home that could cause an electrical fire, call on the experts at Simon Electric to help you get the problem solved. Call us today!